Confederation

Today Canada is the second largest country in the world. Canada became a country in 1867, but the land and the people have been around for much longer. Many events have happened that shaped the way Canada is today. In the 1500's, European explorers came and claimed land in North America. They found the land was rich in resources. People who were seeking a new life came and began to settle in North America. Britain and France claimed most of the land in North America but Aboriginal nations had already been living in what is now Canada for thousands of years. North America had many difficult relations and the First Nations, Britain and France often went to war but did sometimes cooperate. In the 1800's, many British colonies including British Columbia, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and the United Province of Canada had an idea to to join to make a country. This idea became very popular and, in 1867, Canada was born. The colonies of British North America were thinking about joining together to form a new country. This was called Confederation. There were many reasons for the provinces to join. In 1857-1864 political deadlock in the United Province of Canada happened often. This made it hard to pass laws. Another reason was that an intercolonial railway was needed to increase trade, improve transportation and to improve the communication between the colonies of British North America. If the colonies joined in Confederation they could split the cost of this railway. By this time, trade between British North America and the United States of America was no longer under the Reciprocity treaty. The people of British North America thought that if they joined together, they could trade with themselves and economic prosperity could continue throughout the colonies. Another big reason was the threat of the Americans expanding into British North America. They wanted to move into the Red River Settlement and the colony of British Columbia. The Fenians were a group of Irish Catholics in the US. They led many armed raids across the border and into British North American colonies. This made the people of British North America scared that the US would take over. Great Britain wanted her colonies to be more self sufficient and thought that joining in Confederation was a great way to do that. In the Early 1860's people of the colonies of British North America did not think as one nation. The colonies were geographically very different and far apart. By the mid 1860's there was concern in each colony about the economic prosperity because free trade from the US was ending. People thought that uniting the colonies of British North America would allow them to build transportation links. Many of the people were loyal to Great Britain and if they united and became a country they could resist the US and stay loyal to Great Britain. In 1867, the United Province of Canada, (Canada West and Canada East), New Brunswick and Nova Scotia agreed to join in federal union. They joined in Confederation as four provinces, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Each member in the union kept some power over their affairs but turned most power over to the central government. This government was, and still is, located in Ottawa, Ontario and is Canada’s federal government.

Pathway to Confederation Timeline April 1861: The civil war begins in the US November 1861: Trent incident causes Britain to send troops to British North America June 1864: Brown, Macdonald and Cartier for the Great Coalition September 1864: Charlottetown conference takes place October 1864: Quebec conference takes place, St. Albans raid happens February 1865: Confederation debates take place in Canada March 1865: Voters defeat Tilley in New Brunswick April 1865: American civil war ends March 1866: The United States of America ends the Reciprocity Treaty April-June 1866: Fenians raid New Brunswick and the United Province of Canada December 1866: London Conference takes place March 1867: Queen Victoria signs the British North American Act into a law July 1867: Dominion of Canada officially created

Women at Time of Confederation

In 1867, at the time of Confederation, women were not allowed to be politicians. They also weren’t allowed to vote in a federal election. In 1918 women gained the right to vote and a year later, in 1919, women could be elected in the House of Commons. At the time of Confederation, women did not have the right to express themselves like they should have.